Uzair talks to Akhil Bery about ongoing developments in Sri Lanka, which is in the midst of a severe economic crisis, caused in large part by COVID-19. Akhil talked about the overall political economy in the island nation, its geopolitical ties with China, India, and the United States, and what’s next.

Akhil is currently Director, South Asia Initiatives at the Asia Society Policy Institute, where his research focuses on the US-India relationship and developments in South Asia more broadly. Previously, he worked at Eurasia Group, where he was responsible for the firm’s coverage of South Asia, including political and economic developments in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Prior to Eurasia Group, Akhil worked with McLarty Associates, where he led the research for the India & South Asia Team. He has also worked at Fujitsu Research Institute in Tokyo, Japan, as well as at 9.9 Media, a B2B start-up based in New Delhi.

Akhil holds a M.A. in International Business and Policy from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and Walsh School of Foreign Service and a B.A. in History from Franklin & Marshall College.

Reading recommendations:

• The Nine Lives of Pakistan by Declan Walsh
• India at the High Table by Howard B. Schaffer and Teresita C. Schaffer